Alcohol consumption in France over the Christmas period

Holiday Preparation and Recovery : Nutrition and Wellness Tips with Hedonist Labs

 

Buche, turkey, foie gras... As the festive season approaches, many of us want to prepare our bodies for future excesses. Hedonist laboratories have taken a close look at this issue and offer you a few tips to apply in the run-up to these events:

 

Don't fast or starve yourself before the big day

 

Contrary to what you might think, skipping meals in the run-up to New Year's Eve is absolutely not a good idea. When you fast, you eat fewer detoxifiers, which are essential for the liver, if you consume alcohol and rich dishes afterwards.

 

So it's a bad idea to do it the week before New Year's Eve. Your body will store large quantities of fat, and you'll put on more weight than if you did nothing. Above all, you're likely to be famished and go for the petits fours. So it's important to eat well, so as not to starve yourself or deprive yourself. But which foods/meals should you choose?

 

Opt for lighter meals and satiating foods

 

A few days before Christmas and New Year's Eve, our stomachs need a break. As we said earlier, there's no question of going on a diet.

This means light, well-balanced lunches and dinners. We eliminate from our menu all foods rich in fats, fast sugars, cold meats, pasta, cheese, chocolate and sweets. The aim is to purify the body and protect the liver as much as possible from excesses. Processed foods should also be avoided. This holiday season, take the time to discover a new passion for cooking.

 

Favour green foods

 

To prepare your digestive tract for the gargantuan meals to come, you need to focus on green foods that are easy to digest and rich in nutrients, fiber and minerals, such as broccoli, romanesco cabbage, watercress, zucchini and spinach. We also opt for whole fruits rather than fruit juices. The aim will be to keep you on the right track and awaken the sensation of satiety, so you don't snack and crave foods that are too fatty, salty, sweet or processed.

 

Stay well hydrated all day long

 

Beforehand, try to limit sugary drinks such as soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. To drain and eliminate toxins, it's best to drink water, tea, herbal teas... As with green vegetables, water has an appetite-suppressant effect, preventing cravings and snacking.

Of course, it's important to drink throughout the day. Sportsmen and women, you are particularly concerned by this section, since according to numerous studies, 1% dehydration is equivalent to 10% loss of performance. Our Hang Over food supplement contains a range of electrolytes to keep your body hydrated.

 

Don't ignore physical exercise

 

As you prepare to take part in a culinary marathon, your body needs to be prepared like a top-level athlete. It's not a question of embarking on extensive physical preparation, but simply of walking or cycling to work for a few minutes, rather than taking public transport.

You can also do some cardio or muscle-strengthening exercises without equipment, in the warmth of your own home.

Remember, public health recommendations call for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.

 

Ensuring quality sleep

 

To ensure you're in top shape to face the marathon of festivities at the end of the year, it's important to get a good night's sleep in the weeks leading up to it. Sleep regulates a huge number of factors in the body (emotions, stress, memory, cell regeneration...).

For this, a light diet in the evening is recommended. We also insist on foods rich in tryptophan, an enzyme that is a precursor of serotonin, the sleep hormone. You should also avoid being glued to your telephone in bed, as this will make it harder to fall asleep, and blue lights should be avoided in the evening. Instead, use candles, for example.

 

Detoxing with Hang-Over after the holidays?

 

Did you know? Hang-Over can also be used for detoxifying purposes. To do this, you'll need to take one tablet a day for twenty days to purify the emunctories (liver, gall bladder, intestines, kidneys, respiratory tract and skin).

 

The aim of this detox is to free the body of accumulated toxins and cleanse our "terrain" to regain or maintain our well-being. You'll feel better and lighter, which is essential after a long series of festive meals.